Ahlafors

Ground: Svenska Stenhus Arena (Sjövallen)

Visits: 1

Date: 13th May 2023

Match: Ahlafors - Torn 1-1 (Division 1 Södra)

Attendance: 286

The main match on this trip was Ahlafors v Torns IF in Division 1 Södra. Founded in 1913 Ahlafors IF have mostly played in the lower leagues. In 2002 the club played in Division 6 but in 2022 the club were crowned champions of Division 2 Norra Götaland. 2023 is the first time ever for the club in the 3rd tier of the Swedish league pyramide and for the first time since 2018 I was missing a ground in Division 1 Södra. My first match of the day, IK Zenith v Vänersborgs FK, finished around 14.50 and 32 minutes later I parked my car at Sjövallen IP (officially Svenska Stenhus Arena) in Alafors. I had heard the ground was nicely situated next to a lake but I was still positively surprised. Sjövallen in Alafors is a stunning ground and pictures don't do the ground and its surroundings justice. There can´t be many grounds, at any level, which are nicer than this one.

It has been a tough start to the season for Ahlafors IF and after six rounds the club is bottom of the table with only four points. Today´s visitors, Torn from Stångby, are 2nd bottom with six points, so an important match for both teams. At Hovgårdsvallen it was very warm but at Sjövallen there was a nice breeze and it was also starting to get cloudy. Ahlafors had the perfect start, 1-0 after less than a minute. The rest of the 1st half was a scrappy affair and at the break it was still 1-0 to Ahlafors. In the 2nd half there weren´t many chances either and when Torn, with seven minutes to go, was down to 10 men (due to injury) I thought Ahlafors would take all three points. That was not to be the case though, in the 90th minute a stunning strike made it 1-1 and that was to be the final score. A great end to my trip and I am really pleased to have attended a match at this stunning ground!

Clubhouse

Entrance

Next to a lake

West Stand

North End

Players and officials entering

Kick-off

West side

View of play

East side

View of Sjövallen

View of play

South End